Febuary 2010, I was spending some time with my Québec Family and I was feeling so very happy because I was making my dream partially come true (I became a permanent resident in Québec) when Team Céline announced sales for Las Vegas in 2011.
I got to buy me two tickets for Céline's first shows and I could then plan my next trip for March 2011.
Time went by so quickly that about one year later, there I was, with open arms!
Yeah Open arms is the song Céline started the show with and it couldn't have been any better !
What a show!
Almost a week later and I still can't find words to describe what has probably been one of my best trips ever following Céline around the world.It was my very first time to Vegas coming from Europe. Yep! To those whom still haven't noticed, it's been 3 years since I have moved from Brazil to Luxembourg, and the only problem within it is the huge 9 hours jetleg... Nothing at all compared to the joy of meeting so many friends from over 30 different countries, united for one unique reason: Céline Dion!
What a thrill!
I drove about 3,5 hours from Luxembourg to Amsterdam, where I met my friend Mireille, who then drove me to the airport where I met the Dutch Gang!
Almost 20 hours flying and then we were in Vegas!We didn't need too much time to join the rest of the fans from America, Italy, France, Germany, Québec, Brazil, Venezuela, Belgium, Poland, China, Japan, Korea, Australia, Spain, Mexico, Chile, Canada and so on...
News people all over the place.
We've had a wonderful time meeting people brought together by The Célinedion Forum, The Céline Dion Informatiepunkt and The Red Heads.
Now let's talk about the show, I will try my best here. With all technology most of yourselves have probably seen the whole show without even being to Vegas, but here we go:
Céline started the show with Open Arms, wonderful song that now became another one of my favourite on her performances.
Followed by her most famous hits, the voice and glamour brought together things nobody has ever seen before.
The moment when she sings lullaby is the only one that makes fans like me to not focus on the singer itself, just because there are tons of personal pictures of the Diva and her beloved family being shown on the big screen.
The most touching moment is when she performs Ne me quitte pas (J. Brel). Not even Edith Piaf made it better. We feel the words, we get emotional, we cry with Céline. No one will ever understand what I am talking about if you are not able to see it with your own eyes. Simply unbelievable!
Céline pays a beautiful tribute to Michael Jackson.
We are fans and such a status makes us dream like children and we always think the diva knows our names and faces... But for one moment i thought it was real! LOL
During the first songs I had the feeling that Céline was doing her best to not look into my eyes, but while singing one of Michael's songs (Ben), she talks about him and says, 'since the very begining I wanted to learn English to sing and talk like him' she suddendly looked into my eyes and I felt like she knew me somehow and I put myself on her place thinking, well, i have learned french for her and she did the English for Michael OMG so we have another coincidence to share! :D
I started crying! I never got so emotional. It's unbelievable how we fall in Love with Céline so easily!
Show went on and suddenly Céline appears on the back a little bit blurry.
Well, I am wearing glasses since december so, not only three months old, then i thought it was a problem with my eyes lol but then while trying to fix it I looked to the back of the colosseum and suddenly the diva comes singing, then It was having a hard time to realize that the real Céline was on the back walking to the front while a 3D Céline was singing right in front of us.
Really! I want to know how it works and I will build one on my room!! Hahah
AMAZING!!
Followed by the duet Dion-Céline, there was Steve Wonder also in 3D singing Overjoyed with our diva.
Simply AWESOME!
She ended the show with My Heart will go on.
I was still inside the Colosseum when Alexandra Dias (TVA Reporter) asked me for an interview and I couldn't find my words... I was talking and tears wanted to come and I still had to think and talk to her in French OMG
But I made it.
Next day just hours before the second show, the Red Heads have been authorized to go inside the colosseum and make a group photo with Céline. Thank God I support them since their very begining then I have also been invited to Come, so we'll be sharing another picture with Céline very soon!The magic of this short meeting was not exactly the picture, not only to be there before the show, but to have the rights to see the rehearsals.
Then you see the real Céline working to make everything beautiful, and to have a special ending. Yep!
Céline performed River Deep Mountain High for us only, about 50 people.
It could say it was one of the best moments I ever had on my Céline's fan career:D
Besides that we've had a wonderful time having dinner with the CélineDion Forum members. I could practice my German which is still very poor, I never had so much fun.
You know? Céline live has been my greatest joy since 1999 (when i was in Toronto for my very first experience ever). Within time I've had the opportunity to meet up with so many fans, from so many different countries and cultures, but it will never be the same when you have her die hard ones all together.
I would like to thank you all for making my dream come true with so many special moments!
Special Thanks to Jean-Philippe Dion, Julie Snyder, Alexandra Dias, Geneviève Gelineau, Barbara Vetere, A.Morrow, Mireille, Cindy, Suus, Mathias, Stephanie, Anouk, Fanny, Line, Jane and Enzo for making their own way me smile in a very different way!
Estevam Peric
March 2011
